73.312 BF2080  –  Noctuidae –  Noctuinae – Euxoa obelisca – Square-spot Dart – (Tutt, 1902) Adult Macro:  CAT 3 – Difficult to identify/Very rare/Scarce species (includes very scarce adventives/immigrants)/County-level first records – images or specimen may be required – Difficult to identify /Very rare/Scarce (includes very scarce adventives/immigrants)/County-level first records       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Brown –  Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant    
Taxonomy:   Macro   >>  Noctuidae  >> Noctuinae
ID Difficulty:  Red – difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.
Confusion Species: White-line Dart (Euxoa tritici)
ID pointers: The main confusion species is White-line Dart (Euxoa tritici). It is possible to safely identify many individuals of this species by external features, but extreme examples of White-line Dart means that where there is doubt a Gen Det would be advisable. This species has probably been overlooked due to 1) It’s similarity to White-line Dart and B)Square-spot Dart is not usually to be expected inland, being considered primarily as a coastal species. The absence of arrow-head markings on the inner-side of the outer cross-line are a good indicator.
Distribution:  (Last record: 17 July 2022 at Newall )  –  Current status uncertain. Possibly a rare and locally distributed species. No records since 1974. A specimen was recorded on 27th July 2022 from Newhall which could potentially have been this species. Unfortunately the photograph supplied was not of good enough quality to put the record beyond any doubt. It was sent to several experts in their field on Square-spot Dart & White-line Dart and only a 90% probability of it being a Square-spot Dart could be given. Therefore the record has to be accepted as an aggregate, with a probability of Square-spot Dart.
Flight Period: August /  September /  –  On the wing August – September Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Keith Peach  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 22 July 2025 by WS ***
Wingspan: 35-40mm
Food Plant: Low plants.
Last Recorded Year: 2022
Last Recorded By – Keith Peach
Last Recorded General Area – Newall

IMAGES BELOW:  No images

Newhall – 17/7/2022 – Keith Peach (90% probable Square-spot Dart)

no images were found

Distribution Map for Euxoa obelisca

Found 7 records
    ↳ 0 from After 2025
    ↳ 0 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 7 from Before 2020

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

******* Choose ONLY one at a time, of either Monad, Tetrad or Hectad Distribution - each has it's own set of data. Also, the distribution maps cover ALL recorded data. *******

Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.

Land-cover * shows the variety of land-cover within the VC57 area, based on the CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) forty-four thematic classes of land-cover. This will show, to a greater or lesser degree, the number and variety of moths found in different land-cover types. The UK continues to operate within the Copernicus programme, with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) providing Corine Land Cover (CLC) datasets for the UK and its territories.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Euxoa obelisca

⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.


Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however, the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Euxoa obelisca
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
No data returned from the database.

Monthly Counts By Year: Euxoa obelisca
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Euxoa obelisca
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required

Recordings By Year: Euxoa obelisca
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Euxoa obelisca
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%
Euxoa obelisca
Insufficient records/data for an AGR analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2025
Euxoa obelisca
Insufficient records/data for a CUSUM analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2025

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Euxoa obelisca
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Euxoa obelisca
( data includes Adult Stage only )

Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Euxoa obelisca – 7 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

TaxonSite NameTetradYearDateCountStageSource
Euxoa obeliscanr Chesterfield (site not precise)SK37G190817/08/19081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Euxoa obeliscaDerby area (site not precise)SK33L190501/01/19051Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Euxoa obeliscaDerby area (site not precise)SK33L190001/01/19001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Euxoa obeliscaKedleston St, Derby (site assumed to be his garden)SK33N188501/01/18851Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Euxoa obeliscaDerbyshire (site only as county)SK33L187001/01/18701Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Euxoa obeliscaKedleston St, Derby (site assumed to be his garden)SK33N180001/01/18001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Euxoa obeliscaDerbyshire (site only as county)SK33L180001/01/18001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

Scroll to Top